Seachem Products for Soft Corals

Vishwa.J · 07/12/2017, 06:42 AM

Hi everyone ,

I'm planning on having a reef tank (48"x24"x18" - 90g) in the near future.

Corals I'm planning to keep are ,

1) Mushrooms
2) Zoanthids
3) Xenia
4) Green Star Polyps and other beginner stuff only.

I will have inverts (Shrimp , Crabs) if that makes any difference.

Lighting will be 2 x VIPARSPECTRA 165W LED lights or 2x 48" Green Element 96W lights. (Will open a different thread for this)

My question is , what are the Products you recommend I get? I try to stick with Seachem since it's the only available product for me here (Sri Lanka).

This is the list I'm planning to buy ,

1) Seachem Prime
2) Seachem Reef Buffer? or Marine Buffer?
3) Seachem Reef Complete? or Reef Builder?

I know prime is irrelevant for Corals..I want to know if I should get Reef Buffer or Marine Buffer? and Reef Complete or Reef Builder?

I'm a little confused with their product descriptions and internet search didn't help much either since most people have LPS , SPS too which changes the equation entirely.

If you recommend any other Seachem product to be used for a Softie tank , please feel free to educate me. I'm still a newbie to the reef hobby.

Thanks in Advance.

AlSimmons · 07/12/2017, 09:55 AM

Before you go buying these products for your tank you might want to see if water changes alone can keep parameters such as Alkalinity, Calcium & Magnesium well within limits first. Also, you might want to use a salt that has been known to have higher concentrations of Calcium & Magnesium in it too. Just as an example, Instant Ocean Reef crystals would be a good choice.

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-05/rhf/index.htm

Vishwa.J · 07/12/2017, 10:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlSimmons

Before you go buying these products for your tank you might want to see if water changes alone can keep parameters such as Alkalinity, Calcium & Magnesium well within limits first. Also, you might want to use a salt that has been known to have higher concentrations of Calcium & Magnesium in it too. Just as an example, Instant Ocean Reef crystals would be a good choice.

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-05/rhf/index.htm

Instant Ocean is sadly not available for me

I forgot to mention it sorry..

I only have access to Red Sea Instant Salt and Dymax Reef Salt

sdbc · 07/12/2017, 04:31 PM

+1 on AlSimmons response. Wait to see if you need to add anything and then evaluate what product would be the best fit.

Vishwa.J · 07/14/2017, 09:37 AM

Got it...thanks!

Will hold buying anything except prime until I figure out what I will need..

jayball · 07/14/2017, 02:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vishwa.J

Got it...thanks!

Will hold buying anything except prime until I figure out what I will need..

This is a good idea, if you get to the point that regular water changes are not enough then using kalkwasser (AKA pickling lime or food grade calcium hydroxide) is an easy and cheap way to keep your ALK buffered between water changes. Can be set up as an overnight drip or in your top off water.

Soft coral only tanks are really easy that way.

kwhyle · 07/18/2017, 12:39 PM

Just use Red Sea Pro salt during water changes. Also if you dont have a store nearby for RODI water, get a RODI unit.

Soft corals are not hard to grow. I was impatient and got some softies for my mid-cycled tank and after the cycle, they are thriving and definitely growing.

It is well known that soft coral can do better in higher nutrient water. Just try not to overcomplicate things. Afterall this is a hobby and we're all constantly learning

07/12/2017, 06:42 AM	#1
Vishwa.J Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Sri Lanka Posts: 15	Seachem Products for Soft Corals Hi everyone , I'm planning on having a reef tank (48"x24"x18" - 90g) in the near future. Corals I'm planning to keep are , 1) Mushrooms 2) Zoanthids 3) Xenia 4) Green Star Polyps and other beginner stuff only. I will have inverts (Shrimp , Crabs) if that makes any difference. Lighting will be 2 x VIPARSPECTRA 165W LED lights or 2x 48" Green Element 96W lights. (Will open a different thread for this) My question is , what are the Products you recommend I get? I try to stick with Seachem since it's the only available product for me here (Sri Lanka). This is the list I'm planning to buy , 1) Seachem Prime 2) Seachem Reef Buffer? or Marine Buffer? 3) Seachem Reef Complete? or Reef Builder? I know prime is irrelevant for Corals..I want to know if I should get Reef Buffer or Marine Buffer? and Reef Complete or Reef Builder? I'm a little confused with their product descriptions and internet search didn't help much either since most people have LPS , SPS too which changes the equation entirely. If you recommend any other Seachem product to be used for a Softie tank , please feel free to educate me. I'm still a newbie to the reef hobby. Thanks in Advance.

07/12/2017, 04:31 PM	#4
sdbc Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: San Diego Posts: 94	+1 on AlSimmons response. Wait to see if you need to add anything and then evaluate what product would be the best fit. __________________ Bob - San Diego Current Tank Info: 125g mixed reef, 20g F/W planted

07/12/2017, 09:55 AM	#2
AlSimmons Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2016 Location: California Posts: 2,482	Before you go buying these products for your tank you might want to see if water changes alone can keep parameters such as Alkalinity, Calcium & Magnesium well within limits first. Also, you might want to use a salt that has been known to have higher concentrations of Calcium & Magnesium in it too. Just as an example, Instant Ocean Reef crystals would be a good choice. http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-05/rhf/index.htm

07/14/2017, 09:37 AM	#5
Vishwa.J Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Sri Lanka Posts: 15	Got it...thanks! Will hold buying anything except prime until I figure out what I will need..

07/18/2017, 12:39 PM	#7
kwhyle Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2017 Posts: 27	Just use Red Sea Pro salt during water changes. Also if you dont have a store nearby for RODI water, get a RODI unit. Soft corals are not hard to grow. I was impatient and got some softies for my mid-cycled tank and after the cycle, they are thriving and definitely growing. It is well known that soft coral can do better in higher nutrient water. Just try not to overcomplicate things. Afterall this is a hobby and we're all constantly learning